Jack London (1876-1916), at his peak, was the most popular of all living writers
. Born in San Francisco, he became a political activist and socialist at an earl
y age. Written after posing as an American sailor stranded in the East End of Lo
ndon during 1902 - sleeping in doss houses, living with the destitute and starvi
ng - this is perhaps Jack London's most important work.
As well as being a li
terary masterpiece, The People of the Abyss stands as a major sociological study
. While other American writers were blindly celebrating the glories of the Briti
sh Empire at its peak, Jack London was asking why such misery was to be found in
the heart of a capital city of immense wealth. This is a work of reportage rath
er than propaganda - London lets his observations speak for themselves.
